Expression device for pneumatic musical instruments.



PATENTED MAY 12. 1908.

. E. DE KLEIST. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APILIOATION FILED JUNE 11 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fin Illlllll II I! OOOOOOOOOOOOOODOOOOOObOOODCGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO No. 887,199. PATENTED MAY 1 2, 1908.

E. DE KLEIST.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1906.

3SHEETSSHEET 2.

PATBNTED MAY 12, 1908.

E." DE KLEIST. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. .ii n h m 2 W L M 0 C w fil 1 mun/u a l U W w J 1 H @U UV WI. u U a U Pill/1% ii. t)

Application filed June 11. E905.

it known that l, iQi'ollixr: DE Kilnis'r, a citizen ol the United States, residing zit lomlwands. in the rounty oi Xingnm rule oi New York. have in ented s new nnd uliiel ul ill)fiYiPi-illlltlil in Q \pression De vi es l'or neuuultio Musical instruments, ol nlncl'l the following is it specification.

This in-.e1'ition reli'itcs to the expression devices ol" pneumatic. lnusicol instruments more particular ll-ifGlfillCi. to :1 device s kind ill which the desired sl'niding are. produced hy varying: the tension l ol vacuum in the wind chest. jert ol my invention to provid u. no or expression mechanism of this which is simple. in construction ehle in action and which nl'l'ords u 1 of expression.

the lireoinpnnying drawings consisting sheets: Figure l is :L sectional front n. of it sell playing pneumatic pinno l volition, the piano action notronstituting n port oi oi, heirmilittedi Fig. 2 is u v' )1! oi the wind chest, nd 1 ie expire i lei i i expiend has .3 is :in enssion mechsection thereof. in Fig 5 is :i sermon siunlur showing one of the expressioi'i ioci ed in its collapsed position by nmtic. Fig. 6 is ndingremmil similar to Furl f2, showing notion oi the menus ior eonlsion mechanism. Fig". 7 front view oi the lost named of reference indicate (.lOilP 1 throughout the several views.

rise the wind chest containing 2L notion of any suitahle eonstruo t' i liilD Sllr-XT ES PA Specification of Letters Patent.

13 FOR PNEUMTATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Serial No. 312L165.

G indicates or tracker hozird of ordinary construction, (1 the tru'l'eling music sheet wound upon the rolls g, y, end /1 the usual tuhes or conduits hauling lroln lhe ducts of the tracker hoard to the wind chest.

l is u vi lie ho); orosse conne ted with the chamber ol lho wind hoard l) h u who i and having an llir or flushing port i, controlled by on inwardly-opcning regulating Valve so that when this \i'ilve opened more or loss the outer iitniosphere. is admitted to the (use l and the wind hoard i and the main exhaust (-lninnol l of lhe wind chest ronunuuic:line ilu-rim'ith, diminishing the tension or degree of vacuum in the Wind chest. operzitinp the motor pneunnil'ics less l'orcihl); zn'ul causing the piano-haminers .to strike the strings more lightly. i

The regulating valve 'i" is connected by a rod 1' with the short arm of u lever J fulcruinodupouthevulveensentj 'lotheends of the lever are connected springs Is, A which ore attached at their lower ends to the valve case and its hose, us shown, or to any other fixed parts. ()ne of these springsmreferably tllnl counseled "with the long :t'iill of the lever, is attached to un n-d iusting screw k passing through i smooth hole in the lever and having ii out if which livers upon the latter. 'lhoso springs counteract ouch other, and the spring l.: which tends to keep the regulating valve closed is so tensioned that it opens under a colnpnmtively small degree of suction in the valve case, reducing the air tension to the proper degree to produce the softest orpienissiino oilocls L, L, L" indicate a plurality of expression pneumiitics or hollows iii-ranged side by side below the long arm of the lever J. The upper movable hoard of ouch of these, pneumntics is connected with the lever ii hy a spring or having an adjusting screw m, like the screw lr .l'or regulating its tension. When one of these pneumatics is collapsed, its movable board. strains or distonds the eorres lending spring m;increosing the rosistnnce oil'ered to the opei'iing movement of the; regulating Valve, such resistance eugrmontinir the resistonce of the spring If"? The movable hoards of these pnounietics have :1v practically uniform stroke, but the cooperating springsiri are adjusted to difi'erent tensions, so that the rt misting valve is held closed with varying degrees of resistance whereby the tension in the valve ease, and the wind chest is increased more or less according to the particular 620 pression lHtCtllfltlllC which is collapsed. The, tension of these springs is so graded that when strained the) respectively exert the necessary resistance upon the regttlating valve to produce different air tensions corresponding, for example, to piano, forte, and double fort e.

Each of the expression pncumatics is controlled by a row of perforations in the music sheet and a corresponding valve mechanism of the wind chest. like the valve mechanisms which control the motor-pneutnatics of the piano ltammers. ln l*ig. 2 is shown one of these valve mechanisms. whi h comprises the customary double puppet valve n, n, controlling the usual air and exhaust ports if, 'n which communicate respectively with the air chamber N and the exhaust chamber 1 of the wind chest, the pneumatic being connected by a tube 0 with the exhaust and llushing channel 0 of t he corresponding valve mechanism. When a perforation of the music sheet registers with the tracker du t colresponding to one of the expression pneuntatics L, l), l the correspoiuling puppet Valve is elevated 01' reversed in a well known manner. placing said pnetttnatic in connection with the exhaust chamber of the wind chest and collapsing it and st raining the companion spring m while when an imperforate portion of the music sheet passes over said duct, the puppet valve descends. placing the pneumatic in connection with the air chainber N of the wind sheet. allowing it to expand and relaxing the companion spring "II'I. it will be understood that the music sheet has a se irate row of perforations for each of the expression pneumatics. In the preferrtd arrangement shown in the drawings. the springs m are graded to increase in resistance from the fulcrum of the lever Jtoward the end of its long arm. The upward stroke of the movable boards of the expression pneuniatics is limited by adjustable stops or screws 2) carried by a horizontal bar 'l" ex tending across the upper sides of said pneumatics, as shown in Figs. 2 and I}.

\Vit-h each expression pneumatic .l L lj preferably cooperates a retaining pneumatic neumatics and the movable board of each of the same is soarranged that it is collapsed and bears against the adjacent end of the movable board of the corresponding expression pneumatic when the latter is expanded as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction, when an expression pneumatic is collapsed, the movable board -l the corresponding retaining pneumatic expands and overlaps the movable board of the expression pneumatic as soon as the latter board descends below the lower end of the retaining pneumatic, as shown in Fig. 5. \Vhen the retaining pneumatic s collapsed, its movable board is withdrawn from engagement with that of the expression pneumatic. allowing the latter to expand to its former position. These retaining pneumatics are controlled byseparatc rows of perforations in the music sheet and cot'iperating valve. mechanisms in the wind chest, identical with those which control the motor pneumatics and the expression pneumat ics. the letter a indicating the tubes which connect the retaining pneumatics with the corresponding exhaust and llushing channels of the wind chest.

The operation of the expression mechanism is as'l'ollows: 'lhe pumps are of such size and operated at the proper rate of speed to produce an air tension or degree of vacuum in the wind chest stillicient to give a maximum foreeof stroke to the greatest number of piano hammersactuated at a time. So long as none of the expression perforations of the music sheet register with the tracker ducts, the expression pneumatics [1. ll, If remain expanded and the companion springs m re main relaxed. l nder these conditions, the primary spring I." furnishes the only resistance upon the regulating valv acting in opposition to the atmospheric pressure against the outer side of the valve. As before stated, that resistance is ctnnparativel) small and the atmospheric pressure therefore opens the valve to the greatest extent, reducing the air tension to the necessary degree-to cause the instrument to play ver softl or pianissitno.

When a perforation in the music sheet controlling say the lirst expression meumatic IA registers with the corres )ontling tracker duct, the pneumatic is collapsed, straining the companion spring in and correspondingly increasing the resistance of the regulating valve. The latter is therefore opened by the atmospheric pressure to a less extent than when the valve is under the resistance of the primary spring 7r alone, thus increasing the air tension accordingly and causing the instrument to play somewhat louder, say piano. When the next expression pneumatic If is collapstal. the regulating valve is placed under the increased resistance of the corresponding spring 7!! allowing the valve to open to a less degree and producing say, a

mezzo forte effect; while when the expression pneumatic l) is collapsed, the outer atmos phere is opposed by the still greater resistance of the most highly tensioned spring m, thus increasing the air tension sufficiently to cause the instrtunent to play rather loud or forte. When all of the expression pneumatics are collapsed, the combined resistance of their springs in is added to that tithe.

primary spring k roducing the highest air tension and the lOUt est clfect. ()ther shades of expression between the softest and loudest may be obtained by causing two of the expression pneumatics to be actuated simultaneously, it being possible to obtain eight different. degrees of air tension or shades of expression by the-use of the primary spring k and by different combinations of the three pneuniatics with said spring.-

While 1 have heroin shown and described automatic and pneumatic means for controlling the graduated resistance springs of the regulating valve, I do not wish to be limited to that coi'istruction, as such springs could he strained or tensioned by manual means and the device could be otherwise modified without departing from the scopeand spirit of the invention. F or example Figs. (5 and 7 show a modified construction in which the expression pneumatics are controlled by hand-operated valves T, instead of a traveling music sheet. These valves may be arrai'iged under the key-table U and operated by individual rods u, extending through said table and terminatirn at their upper ends in buttons or keys 11. .lhese valves normally close ducts '11 formed in an auxiliary tracker pncuinatics r.

board V and loading respectively to the. diaphragnis v of the valve mechanisms .in the wind chest which control the expression In the closed position of the iand valves T the expression pncumatics are expanded, but wl'ien one of these valves is opened, the correspomling expression pneumatic collapsed in an obvious manner, straining the companion regulating spring and exerting gr water resistance upon the regulating valve, as hereinbeh)ro described.

It is not essential that the regulating valve should he arranged in a separate valve box or case as shown. It may be applied to a flushing port of any chamber or passage leading to or connected with the main exhaust chamber or channel of the wind chest so that whei'ithc valve is opened more or loss, the tci'ision in the wind chest varied accordingly. l

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a wind chest, at regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atn'iosphere into the wind chest, at plurality of resistance devices of different tensor operating to close said valve against the atmospheric pressure, and means for bringing said resistance devices into action, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a wind chest, a regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a plurality of springs of different grades of resistance operating to close said valve, and means for individually tensioning said springs, substantially as set forth.

The coinbinationof a. wind chest, a

regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a plurality of-springsof different grades of resistance operating to close said valve, and pneumatics connected withsaid springs for tensioningthe same, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a wind chest, a. regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a pinrality of springs of different grades of resistance connected with said valve and tending to close the same, and means for individually straining said springs. substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a. wind chest, at regulating valve controlling the ingress ol the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a plurality of springs of different grades of resistance connected with said valve and tending to close the same, means for individually straining said. springs, and means for regulating the tension of the springs, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a wind chest, a regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a primary resistance spring connected with said valve, a supplemental resistance spring also connected with said valve, and means for straining said supplemental spring, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a wind chest, a

regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a pr1 mary resistance spring connected with said valve, a plurality of simplemental springs of diilerent grades of resistance also connected with said valve, and means for straining said supplemental springs, substantially set forth.

8. The combination of a wind chest, at regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a lever connected with said valve, a plurality of expression pneumatics, springs of different grades of resistance connecting said lever with said pneumatics, and means for operating said pneumatics,"substantially as set forth t] The combination of a wind chest, at regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a lever connected with said valve, a pluralit of expression pneumatics, springs of different gradesof resistance connecting said lever with said pneuinatics, and means for regulating the tension of said springs, substantially as set forth.

10. The combinationof a wind chest, a regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind cl1est, a lever connected. with saidvalve, a pair of springs connected with the lever and acting in opposition to each other, the spring which tends to close said valve having means for regnlat ing its tension, supplemental springs of different grades of resistance also connected with said lever and tending to close said valve, and neurnatics for straining said supplementa springs, substantially as set fort 1.

11. The combination of a wind chest, a regulating valve controlling the ingress of the outer atmosphere into the wind chest, a lever having one of its arms connected with said valve, oppositely acting springs connected with the arms of said lever, the spring which tends to close said valve having means for regulating its tension, a plurality of expression pneumatics, means for operating said pneumatics, and supplemental springs of different degrees of resistance connecting said lever with said pneumatics respectively, substantially as set forth.

12. A device for controlling the air tension of pneumatic musical instruments, comprising a regulating valve, springs of different grades of resistance operating to close said valve, expression pneumatics connected with said springs for tensioning the same, retaining pneumatics for locking said expression pneueamoe matics in their collapsed position, and means for actuating said pneumatics, substantially as set forth. p

13. The combination of a, wind chest, a box or case connected withthe wind chest and having a fiushingportfa regulat' valve, controlli said port, springs ferent said va ve, and means for straining said springs,- substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of a wind chest, a box or case connected with the wind chest and having a flushing port, a regulatin valve controlling said port, a lever connecte with said valve, springs of d' erent grades of resistance connected with aidlever and tending to close said valve, pneumatics connected with said spring for straining the same,- and means for actuatin said pneumatics, substantially as set 0151.

Witness my hand this 31st day of May,

EUGENE DE KLEIST Witnesses: C. F. GEYER,

E. M. GRAHAM.

of ades o resistance connected. with 

